About this fund

Robeco Global Credits invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of global investment grade corporate bonds. The selection of these bonds is based on fundamental analysis. This fund has the flexibility to invest in other fixed income asset classes such as high yield, Emerging Credits and Asset Backed Securities. The fund can take limited active duration (interest-rate sensitivity) positions.

The value of the investments may fluctuate. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Annualized (for periods longer than one year).Cumulized (total amount of return).Performances are gross of fees and based on closing values. In reality, costs (such as management fees and other costs) are charged. These have a negative effect on the returns shown.Performances are net of fees and based on transaction prices.

Fund

Reference index

The value of the investments may fluctuate. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Annualized (for periods longer than one year).Cumulized (total amount of return).Performances are gross of fees and based on closing values. In reality, costs (such as management fees and other costs) are charged. These have a negative effect on the returns shown.Performances are net of fees and based on transaction prices.

Performance explanation

Based on transaction prices, the fund's return was 0.67%. The fund's beta was below 1 during the month and ended the month at 0.95. The beta position had a negative effect on the fund's return. Issuer selection made a positive contribution to the performance. European credit and Spanish banks in particular outperformed the market. The fund is overweight financials albeit much less than before.

Market development

The Global Aggregate Corporate Bond Index returned +0.37% (hedged in euro) as credit spreads tightened and risk free rates moved higher. The 10-year US Treasury yield increased 9 basis points to 2.5%, and the German 10-year yield increased 8 basis points to 0.01%. The credit spread on the Global Corporate Bond Index decreased 10 bps to 1.14%. Markets remained strong in April. However, there was more dispersion between them. As economic data is improving in Asia and the US, investors believe the credit cycle will last a bit longer. The improvements are not yet broad based and risks to the downside remain present. As negotiations between the US and China progress, markets are getting more comfortable a trade deal will materialize. The Global Corporate Bond Index delivered a positive excess return of +0.93% versus government bonds. US corporate bonds underperformed European corporate bonds with excess returns of +0.92% and +1.03% respectively. High yield (+1.41%) outperformed and emerging market credits (+0.75%) underperformed global investment grade markets.

Currency policy

Derivative policy

Robeco Global Credits make use of derivatives for hedging purposes as well as for investment purposes. These derivatives are very liquid.

Dividend policy

The fund does not distribute a dividend.

ESG Integration policy

The prime goal of integrating ESG factors in our analysis is to strengthen our ability to assess the downside risk of our credit investments. Our analysts include RobecoSAM sustainability data and use external sources to make an ESG assessment as a part of the fundamental analysis.

Investment policy

The Robeco Global Credits is aimed at investors seeking higher yields than those offered by government bonds, but without the higher risk of a pure high-yield corporate bond fund. The fund invests in the global credits markets with investment grade credit acting as the core of the global strategy. It does have the freedom to invest into other asset classes within the fixed income credit universe. The fund is managed by an experienced team with a proven track record capable of generating good performance in both rising and falling bond markets. Robeco's Global Credits fund offers the flexibility of an integrated strategy. The fund invests in the best-of-class credits across all asset classes regardless of type or location. The flexibility of an integrated credit strategy is increasingly required as central bank policies continue to desynchronize and as different credit markets reprice securities as their economies and companies improve at different rates. Robeco uses investment strategies that can provide solid returns in both rising and falling bond markets as proven by its strong track record. The fund benefits from the ample resources at its disposal to cover the credit markets .The investment team is highly experienced and stable with clear split in responsibilities between the portfolio managers and the credit analysts. The investment process is well structured and has a disciplined approach and is based both on a top down macro outlook of the credit markets and an in depth and comprehensive bottom up fundamental credit analysis. The fund applies a total return approach with the flexibility to invest in asset classes such as securitized, high yield and emerging markets. This allocation is based on attaining the best risk reward profile for the fund.

Risk policy

Risk management is fully embedded in the investment process so as to ensure that the fund's positions remain within set limits at all times.

Expectation of fund manager

Macro data in Europe and Asia have clearly bottomed. European data is lagging, which cannot be dissociated from the fact that Europe’s export-driven economy is dependent on the well-being of China and the US. The data is not improving across the board but on aggregate it looks better. Corporate earnings have so far been stable. Even in sectors such as automotive, which showed very weak numbers last year, were able to improve. Markets in general have become more upbeat about future earnings and a prolonged cycle. US treasury rates have moved up in the past two months but remain well-behaved as the Fed has not changed its rhetoric and data is not strong enough to push the long-end up materially. In Europe, Italy and Brexit fears have been put aside for now.

Victor Verberk,Reinout Schapers

Victor Verberk,Reinout Schapers

Mr. Verberk is Head and Portfolio Manager Investment Grade Credits since January 2008. Prior to joining Robeco in 2008, Mr. Verberk was CIO with Holland Capital Management. Before that he was employed by Mn Services as Head of Fixed Income and he worked for AXA Investment Managers as Portfolio Manager Credits. Victor Verberk started his career in the investment industry in 1997. Mr. Verberk holds a Master's degree in Business Economics from Erasmus University, Rotterdam and has been a CEFA holder since 1999. Mr. Schapers is Portfolio Manager Emerging Market Credits in the Credit team. Prior to joining Robeco in 2011, Reinout worked at Aegon Asset Management for 5 years where he was a senior portfolio manager high yield credits and was Head of High Yield Europe since 2008. Before that, he worked at Rabo Securities as an M&A associate and at Credit Suisse First Boston as a corporate finance analyst. He holds an Engineering degree in Architecture from the Delft University of Technology. He has been active in the industry since 2003.

Team

The Robeco Global Credits fund is managed within Robeco’s credit team, which consists of nine portfolio managers and twenty-three credit analysts (of which four financials analysts). The portfolio managers are responsible for the construction and management of the credit portfolios, whereas the analysts cover the team’s fundamental research. Our analysts have long term experience in their respective sectors which they cover globally. Each analyst covers both investment grade and high yield, providing them an information advantage and benefiting from inefficiencies that traditionally exist between the two segmented markets. Furthermore, the credit team is supported by dedicated quantitative researchers and fixed income traders. On average, the members of the credit team have an experience in the asset management industry of seventeen years, of which eight years with Robeco.

Cost of this fund

Ongoing charges

Transaction costs

The expected transaction costs are

Performance fee

This fund may also deduct a performance fee of

Extra fees

max entry fee

Max exit fee

Max sub fee

Max switch fee

Fiscal product treatment

The fund is established in Luxembourg and is subject to the Luxembourg tax laws and regulations. The fund is not liable to pay any corporation, income, dividend or capital gains tax in Luxembourg. The fund is subject to an annual subscription tax ('tax d'abonnement') in Luxembourg, which amounts to 0.05% of the net asset value of the fund. This tax is included in the net asset value of the fund. The fund can in principle use the Luxembourg treaty network to partially recover any withholding tax on its income.

Fiscal treatment of investor

The fiscal consequences of investing in this fund depend on the investor's personal situation. For private investors in the Netherlands real interest and dividend income or capital gains received on their investments are not relevant for tax purposes. Each year investors pay income tax on the value of their net assets as at 1 January if and inasmuch as such net assets exceed the investor’s tax-free allowance. Any amount invested in the fund forms part of the investor's net assets. Private investors who are resident outside the Netherlands will not be taxed in the Netherlands on their investments in the fund. However, such investors may be taxed in their country of residence on any income from an investment in this fund based on the applicable national fiscal laws. Other fiscal rules apply to legal entities or professional investors. We advise investors to consult their financial or tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment in this fund in their specific circumstances before deciding to invest in the fund.

Visit us on social media

Stay updated

The information contained in the Website is solely intended for professional investors within the meaning of the Dutch Act on the Financial Supervision (Wet op het financiële toezicht) or persons which are authorized to receive such information under any other applicable laws. More information about Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. More information on Robeco Luxembourg S.A.

Disclaimer

The information contained in the website is solely intended for professional investors. Some funds shown on this website fall outside the scope of the Dutch Act on the Financial Supervision (Wet op het financieel toezicht) and therefore do not (need to) have a license from the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).

The funds shown on this website may not be available in your country. Please select your country website (top right corner) to view the products that are available in your country.

Neither information nor any opinion expressed on the website constitutes a solicitation, an offer or a recommendation to buy, sell or dispose of any investment, to engage in any other transaction or to provide any investment advice or service. An investment in a Robeco product should only be made after reading the related legal documents such as management regulations, prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, which can be all be obtained free of charge at this website and at the Robeco offices in each country where Robeco has a presence.